Children's Rights Reports

As part of her statutory obligations, the National Children's Commissioner is required to submit a report to federal Parliament each year on the enjoyment and exercise of human rights by children and young people in Australia. This page contains an overview of all of the Commissioner's Children's Rights Reports.

2017 Report

The Children's Rights Report 2017 contains the findings of the National Children's Commissioner's investigation into the needs and experiences of pregnant teenagers, young parents and their children.

2016 Report

The Children's Rights Report outlines work the National Children's Commissioner has undertaken throughout the year to promote discussion and awareness of matters relating to the human rights of children and young people in Australia.

In 2016 the National Children’s Commissioner looked into the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture (OPCAT) in the context of children and young people detained in youth justice centres or adult facilities.

Outline of the 2016 Children's Rights Report

Chapter 1 examines the work I have undertaken throughout the past year to promote discussion and awareness of matters relating to the human rights of children and young people in Australia.

Chapter 2 reports on the consideration of child rights in the development or refinement of federal laws and related policies.

Chapter 3 reviews the readiness of each jurisdiction's youth justice processes for the implementation of the OPCAT.

Chapter 4 outlines the findings of consultations with children and young people in detention facilities.

2015 Report

The 2015 Children's Rights Report contains the findings of the National Children's Comissioners national consultation on the impact of family and domestic violence on the human rights of children and young people under the age of 18 years.

Chapter 1 of the Children’s Rights Report 2015 describes how the National Children’s Commissioner promoted discussion and awareness of children’s rights in Australia throughout 2014-15. Chapter 1 also discusses the progress of recommendations made in the Children’s Rights Report 2013 and Children’s Rights Report 2014.

Chapter 2 reports on how children’s rights have been considered in legislation and court proceedings.

Chapter 3 reports on the National Children’s Commissioner’s project about business and children’s rights.

Chapter 4 reports on the Nation Children’s Commissioner’s national consultation on how children and young people are affected by family and domestic violence.

2014 Report

The 2014 Children's Rights Report focuses on the findings of the National Children's Commissioner's examination into intentional self-harm, with or without suicidal intent, in children and young people.

2013 Report

The 2013 Children's Rights Report examines the key international human rights treaty on children’s rights, the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and its implementation in Australia. Current statistics are used in the report to show how children are faring in Australia. This report also refers to the outcomes of the National Children's Commissioner's national listening tour, the Big Banter, which concluded on 30 September 2013.